John Kerry to travel to Burma, Australia

Washington: US Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Burma and Australia next week, it was announced on Saturday.

In Burma, he would participate in a series of meetings with ASEAN leaders, in Australia, he along with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, will participate in the US-Australia Consultations.
On August 9, Kerry will arrive in Naypyitaw to meet Burmese government leaders and to attend the US-ASEAN, Lower Mekong Initiative, Friends of the Lower Mekong Initiative, ASEAN Regional Forum and East Asia Summit ministerial meetings.

"Engaging the region`s multilateral institutions is one of the key aspects of US commitment in Asia to promote peace, stability, and prosperity. The Secretary will also participate in a series of bilateral meetings," the State Department said.
Kerry will travel to Sydney on August 11 -- to join Hagel and their Australian counterparts ?- Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Defense Minister David Johnston -- for the annual Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN).

He will be there from August 11-13 for the consultations to advance long-standing bilateral security cooperation and for discussing regional and global issues.

On August 13, Kerry will travel to Honiara, Solomon Islands, to meet government leaders and attend wreath laying ceremonies at the Guadalcanal American Memorial and Solomon Scouts and Coastwatchers Memorial.

Later in the day, he will depart for Honolulu, to give remarks at the East-West Center, the State Department said.